30 NHS athletes sign to compete in college

On Wednesday, May 7, Niwot High School celebrated 30 student-athletes at its Spring Signing Day ceremony. Held in the Commons during lunch, the event honored seniors who signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic and academic journeys at the collegiate level. With teammates, coaches, classmates, and loved ones in attendance, the signees celebrated their accomplishments and their future ahead.

"This is the largest class of signees in my six years at Niwot," said Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Joe Brown.

The ceremony included the nine signees from NHS's Fall Signing Day on November 13, 2024, which recognized Kianna Butler (softball), Lucy Connors (lacrosse), Izzy Fay (diving), Anne Haley (volleyball), Eliana Henriques (track and field), Reese Kasper (track and field), Mahuiztli Martinez (soccer), Kenji McCracken (soccer), and Jade West (track and field).

The 21 spring signees represented a wide range of sports, including baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, cross country, and track and field.

Gavin Engtrakul will run cross country and track at Williams College in Massachusetts. A key contributor to Niwot's powerhouse distance program, Engtrakul helped the Cougars capture the 2024 Nike Cross Nationals title and earned All-State First Team honors in the 4x800-meter relay last season, which also set a state record.

Keegan Geldean and Evan Kear will both continue their running careers at Adams State University, a Division II distance powerhouse. Geldean was also part of the Nike Cross Nationals Championship team this past fall. Kear, meanwhile, earned All-Conference First Team honors in the 3200-meter run and Honorable Mention in the 1600-meter run last season. He also competed at the Nike Outdoor Nationals last spring.

Alena Kasanicky is set to compete at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she will run both cross country and track. She runs the 800-meter relay and was a key contributor to Niwot's cross country team throughout her high school career.

Hayden Flynn will run cross country and track for the University of California, Santa Cruz. A versatile athlete, Flynn has competed in the 400-meter and 800-meter relay, the 400- and 800-meter races, and the 1600-meter this season. She also placed third at the Desert Twilight Invitational in Arizona during the cross country season.

Kye Toothaker, a 2023 state champion in the 4x800-meter relay and All-State First Team selection, will continue running at Pomona College in California, one of the top academic institutions in the country. A strong 800-meter runner and valued member of Niwot's cross country squad, Toothaker competed at both the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals and 2024 New Balance Indoor Nationals.

Brayan Herrera will continue his running career at Garden City Community College in Kansas, competing in both cross country and track. He placed tenth at the Desert Twilight Invitational in Arizona this past fall and earned All-Conference Second Team honors in the 800-meter relay during the 2024 spring track season.

Three Cougars, Will Lennert, Lincoln Brewer, and Eleanor Ottem, all committed to Colorado College, where they will continue competing in both cross country and track and field. Lennert specializes in the 3200-meter and was a top finisher at the Desert Twilight Invitational, placing fourth overall. Brewer has focused on the 800-meter and 400-meter dashes this season and participated in the 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals. Ottem ran the 1600-meter and 800-meter relay this spring and contributed to Niwot's fifth-place finish at state, doing so as the only senior on the girls cross country team.

The Cougars also had three signees in track and field focused outside of distance events. Nemo Esquibel will compete at California Lutheran University after a decorated junior season. She earned All-State First Team honors in the 200- and 400-meter relays, and All-Conference First Team honors in the 400-meter, 100-meter relay, and 400-meter relay. Esquibel is currently in her final high school track season.

Sammy Jackman, who is headed to Coe College, runs both the 800-meter and 1600-meter events. Jackman has been a consistent presence in Niwot's middle-distance group and has been contributing since his freshman year.

Weston Domich will compete for Colorado Mesa University. He earned 2024 All-State Honorable Mention and All-Conference Second Team honors in the triple jump last season. Currently, Domich is looking to add to his accolades in his final week as a Cougar athlete.

The Cougars had a strong showing in baseball, with four players set to compete at the collegiate level. Kaige Kennedy, who signed with Garden City Community College in Kansas, posted a .470 batting average and a 1.69 ERA as a junior. Over his career, he has logged 93 strikeouts as a pitcher along with a .358 batting average and .420 OBP (on-base percentage).

Twin brothers Charlie Shaw and Haden Shaw both signed to play at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. Charlie, a four-year varsity player, was named All-Conference First Team and boasts a .345 batting average and .461 OBP, including a .412 average as a junior. Haden, also a four-year varsity player and All-Conference First Team selection, holds a career .440 batting average, including .507 as a junior, and a remarkable .564 career OBP.

Arlo Richards will continue his baseball career at Porterville College in California. He owns a career .270 batting average and .399 OBP, currently holding a .291 batting average.

In volleyball, Brooke Caquelin signed with Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, after transferring to NHS from Skyline High School following her sophomore year. As a senior, she led the Cougars in solo blocks (15), ranked second in total blocks (45), and recorded 31 aces, earning All-Conference Honorable Mention honors.

Jiselle Sales signed with Northeastern Junior College to play volleyball. She led Niwot in total blocks (51), and was second in both hitting percentage (.288) and kills (133), and also earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors.

In soccer, defender Jay Scharfe will head to Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. Known for his smart positioning and set-piece skills, Scharfe was named to the All-State Second Team. He recorded seven goals and eight assists over his high school career.

Thalia Almaraz, a four-year varsity athlete for Niwot's girls basketball program, signed with Waldorf University of Iowa. She earned the title of 2025 Varsity MVP, scoring 416 total career points, with 230 coming during her senior season. A speedy and aggressive presence on the court, Almaraz finished her high school career with a 28% field goal percentage.

From powerhouse distance runners to hard-hitting sluggers, the year's group of signees reflects the depth, versatility, and commitment of Niwot's athletic programs.

Congratulations to the entire Class of 2025 on their accomplishments, and best of luck as they represent Niwot on the collegiate stage.